[Training Ground Ten – Early Morning]
Haruto arrived just after sunrise, only to see Itachi and Sasuke already deep into training.
Itachi was calmly instructing, "Sasuke, you're relying too much on aiming. A true shinobi must be able to throw kunai from any angle, in any situation."
Without even glancing, Itachi casually grabbed a handful of kunai and let them fly in rapid succession.
—Clink. Clink. Clink.—
The blades curved unnaturally mid-air, ringing through the trees as they whirled around, forming a crisscross pattern that locked a training log in place with rope. The sheer precision and flow made Haruto pause.
Haruto thought, Even though I've seen him do this before... it still gives chills. That's a genius for you.
"Big brother... you're amazing."
Haruto approached with a smile. "Morning Itachi-senpai, Morning Sasuke."
Itachi nodding slightly, "You're here. Sasuke—keep practicing."
Turning to Haruto, his expression grew sharper.
You've been training with White Fang's style, right? Let's have a real match. Don't hold back. You know as well as I do—you can't hurt ."
Haruto nodding firmly, "Understood, Itachi-senpai. I'll co at you with everything I have."
Without hesitation, Haruto surged forward, drawing Murasa with a flash of steel. But the gap between them was too wide.
Every strike Haruto threw was gracefully dodged or redirected. Still, he didn't stop.
He pivoted mid-air, used the Clone Technique to obscure his angles, swept with his feet, shoulders, even tried to bait with feints. None landed—but he kept pressing forward, chaining attack after attack with sheer determination.
Finally, with a blur of movent, Itachi caught Haruto's wrist mid-swing.
"That's enough. I've seen all I need." Itachi said
Haruto stepped back and sheathed Murasa, silently awaiting critique.
"I won't be teaching you anything today."
"...Huh?"
"You have sothing most don't: instinct. When you fought Sasuke, you were behind in every technical category—yet you seized every mont like soone who's survived a hundred missions."
"If I didn't know you've never left the village, I'd swear you were a battle-hardened shinobi."
Haruto stayed silent, a ghost of a smile curling at the edge of his lips.
Haruto thoughts, "Well... you're not wrong. If only you knew how many life-and-death battles I've fought inside those dungeon simulations."
Itachi said, "Even your flaws aren't worth correcting. They're part of what makes your fighting style unique. Trying to fix them would only dull your edge."
Haruto stood quietly as Itachi released his grip from the earlier spar. The complint still echoed in his ears.
"You fight with instinct. That's not sothing I can teach."
Haruto couldn't argue with that, and simply nodded in silence, accepting the praise. But nearby...
Sasuke clenching his fist "Tch... Why him? Why does nii-san praise him like that... not ?"
After a quiet mont, Itachi looked over at Haruto.
"Haruto. Do you know your chakra nature?"
Haruto caught slightly off guard, "...My attributes?"
Of course, Haruto did know he had multiple natures—Water, Earth, Wind, and more from his dungeon training. But blurting that out would be idiotic, especially with soone like Danzō lurking in the shadows.
Haruto playing dumb and said in a casual tone, "I think... Water and Earth."
Itachi nodding slightly "Hm. That's suitable."
He pulled out three scrolls from his satchel and tossed them over to Haruto.
"Since you've committed to the sword path, you don't need to focus too heavily on ninjutsu or genjutsu. But having a few core techniques will still help."
"These are:
Water Style: Water Formation Wall
Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall
Genjutsu: Release"
"The water and earth techniques scale with your chakra control. They can be C-rank with minimal chakra, or A-rank when powered up. The genjutsu release is my personal variation—it breaks illusions by forcibly disrupting chakra flow. Use it wisely."
Haruto didn't say anything at first. He looked at the scrolls. The techniques themselves weren't flashy or deadly, but they were useful. More than that, it was clear Itachi had selected them carefully—for him. And that... could only an one thing.
Haruto smiling faintly and thought, He really is leaving. If not, he'd just teach these over ti.
Suppressing the lump in his throat, Haruto forced a bright, sincere smile.
"Thank you, Itachi-nii-san. Really."
Even if your heart aches... you smile. That's sothing Haruto learned from Itachi himself.
"As long as it helps you!" Itachi said softly.
"Hey!! Boss! Itachi-senpai! I'm here!! Sorry I'm late!" Naruto shouting from afar.
Sasuke arms crossed, smirking "As expected of the dead last. Always the last to show up."
"Huh?! What'd you say, you bastard?!"
"You heard . Crane tail."
Haruto rubbed his temples and sighed. "Here we go again..."
Itachi looked at Naruto, thoughtful and quiet. Unlike Sasuke or Haruto, Naruto didn't excel in anything. His basics were a ss, his control a joke, and even his kunai throwing was clumsy. Still, sothing about that stupid determination...
Itachi calmly said, "Naruto. If you have anything you want to ask , now's the ti. I won't have many chances to teach you going forward."
Naruto with bright grin, thumbs up, "Eh? I'm good! No questions! Besides—I've invented a new ninjutsu lately!"
The group went silent for a beat.
"Show your newly invented technique, Naruto."
Haruto and Sasuke panicked "Wait—he's not going to—!"
But it was too late.
Naruto forming the hand seal with pride
"Sexy Jutsu!"
Puff! A cloud of smoke burst—and standing in Naruto's place was a voluptuous, nude, smoke-covered female version of himself.
The training ground fell completely silent.
Itachi, the perfect poker face wielder, visibly twitched. His usual serene smile faltered for the first ti.
Itachi lips barely moving "This... technique is... certainly creative."
Naruto grinning proudly, "I know, right? I ca up with it myself! Hahaha!"
Haruto wiped sweat from his temple and turned away in sha.
Haruto muttering, "I do not know this idiot. Not anymore."
Still, despite the embarrassnt, Haruto couldn't deny Naruto had a strange gift: no matter the tension, he always managed to break it. If being ridiculous was a jutsu, Naruto had mastered it to an art.
The sun had dipped beyond the rooftops. The four had gone their separate ways.
But before fully parting, Itachi gave Haruto a long, knowing glance—deep, unreadable, and faintly sad.
[Uchiha Clan Compound – That Night]
Itachi said calmly, "I'm done eating. I have to leave first."
His voice was colder than usual. There was no smile now—not even the fake one he sotis wore at ho.
Fugaku was scowling and muttered "Itachi..."
He wanted to say more. He wanted to reprimand him. But he knew better—Itachi's strength kept him silent.
Sasuke watching quietly, "Nii-san... why do you look like that...?"
He rembered the rumors. The whispers about Shisui. He didn't understand, but sothing had definitely changed in his brother.
[Night – Tenth Training Ground – Secret eting]
Itachi appearing from the shadows, "Haruto. You called for ?"
Haruto stepped out slowly from behind the trees. His eyes were sharp, serious—older than his years.
Haruto said in low voice, "Itachi. Have you made your decision?"
Itachi narrowed his eyes, "What are you talking about?"
"The Uchiha clan is going to rebel."Haruto said bluntly.
Itachi froze. His composure cracked for just a mont, eyes widening in alarm.
Who told you that?"
"No one, I figured it out. The tension in the village... Shisui's death... and the way you've been acting lately, The jutsu you gave . You're preparing to disappear, Itachi."
There was silence. Heavy. Suffocating. Only the sound of leaves brushing in the night wind.
Haruto said in the intense voice, "I know you. You'd never side with the clan if it ant civil war. You'd rather shoulder the burden alone—even if it ans becoming a criminal."
"You'll never hurt Sasuke. So you'll make yourself the villain. Is that what you've chosen?"
Itachi didn't answer right away. His fists clenched, and his eyes lowered to the ground, as if searching for sothing he'd already lost.
Haruto... I always thought your greatest gift was your instinct—the way you fought, how you never hesitated." He paused, then his gaze sharpened. "But now I realize... your mind is your true weapon."
Without warning, Itachi's hand shot out, gripping Haruto's neck with iron strength. His eyes were calm—but deadly.
"If you were really that smart... you'd know better than to speak of these things out loud."
Haruto said in unwavering smile, "You won't kill . I know you Itachi, Better than you think."
A tense beat, The grip loosened slightly.
"Tell ... is there really no other way? Even if you go through with this, couldn't you save your parents, take Sasuke and leave?"
Itachi looked at Haruto, and for a brief mont, sothing cracked in his stoic mask. Pain, Regret, buried too deep for anyone else to see—but Haruto saw it.
Itachi said quietly, "Too naïve..."
Then, his gaze flicked sharply to the side, then a flash of steel and in an instant, three kunai sliced through the air. A rustle—then a thud.
A black figure collapsed from the treetops, motionless.
Itachi tone colder now):"The net has already been cast. Danzo, the elders, even the Third... They won't allow a single Uchiha to escape." He clenched a fist. "I am no longer making a decision... I'm carrying out a sentence."
"So... you're sacrificing everything. Yourself. Your honor. Your family. For peace?"
Itachi didn't answer. He didn't have to.
Haruto finally said bitterly, "I get it. You're not a killer. You're... a scapegoat."
A silence hung between them—dense, unbearable. The kind only shared by those who understand too much, too young.
Itachi turning his back spoked as he walked, "Don't speak of this again. Not to anyone. You know what would happen if you did."
He paused. "And Haruto—" He looked back, eyes not of a killer, but a brother. "Take care of Sasuke. That's not an order. That's my last... request."
Haruto watching the silhouette fade into the night, "Itachi... I can't stop this. I don't have the strength. Not yet."
His fists trembled. But his eyes stayed clear.
One day, I'll clear your na. I'll stop your death. I swear it.
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